I’m really enjoying writing this blog! I know I suck at grammar and use too many…..and spaces-between-my-scattered-ideas but I think the point gets across. Just so you know the point of me writing this is:
To capture this for me and my family so we can look back in years and have more than just photos on my phone.
To keep in touch with those that we care about and that care about us.
To expose people we know to things and ideas they woud not get exposed to otherwise. Maybe even inspire a TRIP!!!
To (maybe just maybe) share that hard things are possible and we should all work to pursue our dreams and goals….whatever those individual goals may be for YOU….big or small.
Okie dokie here we go….
Updates
The flat - It is looking good and I’ll take photos when Ashley is ok with it. It didn’t get worked on at all last week! The kids were off school for Semana Blanca (the school was closed for ‘ski week - see link below) so we went with Alex and Marta and their family to La Cerdanya, a region in the Pyrenees. We did a ton of skiing, relaxed, ate, and drank great wine. We went to France to buy cheese, La Molina to enjoy skiing and hit Andorra as well. The kids have hit 3 countries so far (Spain, France, Andorra).
We came back on Sunday to do a Calcotada (see link below) with a crew of 17 adults and kids. The seasonal fiesta with ‘mountain onions’ (calcots) where they are chargrilled, then eaten after dipped in a special almond paste…wine and a platter of meat and lots of fun and laughter. Usually, you are outside under the sun with a great view of Barcelona below (you do them outside the city to the north) but the timing and size of our group meant we didn’t have great options….(Ankor you didn’t miss much at this one)…
I booked a trip stateside at the end of April and early March. I’ll be checking on a few things for work (Miami, Little Rock, Park City) and in some good time in KC. If you are around KC and want to have a drink I’d love to - I’m so looking forward to being ‘home’ and giving a few people a good solid hug (also getting some shitty chineese food, some legit BBQ, Al’s Bar and Grill’s famous wings, and Chipotle).
I’m not going to get my haircut just yet! I usually try to grow it out once a year (Ashley is not a fan) as I actually like it longer - I’ll cut it in a few weeks…but I’m enjoying a ‘full head of hair’ while I can…even if it’s a little bit ‘salt and pepper’ (which Ashley does like!).
We are in an international city and the kids are at an international school. Think of the impact of this with what is going on right now in Ukraine. Being here makes me all the more aware of the significant real-life human and political effects of the largest European war since World War II. There are Ukrainians and Russians in the school and it is providing for some additional learning opportunities Hayes and Ellory would not otherwise have. The perspective is much more global here than they would have in Kansas City. The discussions in class, the interactions with kids, and even the discussions we are having at home around the dinner table about the ‘new kid’ that came yesterday - Tuesday 28 February, there was a new kid from Ukraine in 4th grade - they had fled from Ukraine and landed in Barcelona at ASB in the last few days. The school is providing some great tools for us at home to discuss, videos and discussions in class - and it is a learning experience for sure - for us all.
A few quick hits on interesting things:
Ashley and I were in Eixample (the ‘grid’ part of Barcelona’s expansion away from the sea that started in 1859 - it holds some of the most famous streets in Barcelona) two weeks ago shopping and ended the day on a patio with French being spoken at the table to the left, Spanish to our right, and we were speaking English. All were enjoying wine, a small snack, and the company of loved ones…it was pretty cool.
Walking into a random store or random cab and music is playing - in English. It’s weird as I know they have their own stars and music, obvi in Spanish. But there is a ton of music in English here!
Nobody wears baseball caps - nobody. wtf?
‘The kitchen is closed’ - restaurants will be open, for beer/wine/coffee and the patio is busy - but ‘the kitchen is closed’ - it may (or may not) open at 1 or 2, for an hour or two, then close again until 8 or 9pm (maybe 7p at some places). They may have snacks or aperitivos but that is it.
On that above point, most people eat lunch around 2 or 3pm, and dinner sometime after 830 but before 1130pm (you say good afternoon (buena tarde) until 730 or 8pm or so before you say ‘good evening’ or buenas noches)). Breakfast is not really eaten, but maybe a croissant or so at best. Remember from my last post eggs are not brekky food - the kids routinely have them for lunch (tortilla de patatas).
My phone used to be silent until 2pm here (7am central back in the US). My emails never went off, my texts didn’t start at all….it was glorious! I am now getting much communication from my friends and connections here throughout the morning, which is good….but the phone being radio silent was super nice…a forced break! (I’m now just getting back to DND from 8p-9a or so).
There are tons of dogs here - they are usually so calm and relaxed - and almost never bark at humans - but they hate each other most of the time! They are in restaurants, coffee shops, stores, etc with their owners or just sitting quietly outside waiting for their owner to finish their shopping/drink/cafe/etc. I noticed one dog just sitting outside the meat market not even smelling all the meat (la carne). I assume they are not all professionally trained, but just the ‘relaxed’ lifestyle that exists here is reflective in the dogs as well…
I think I have written before about Sunday. The markets are closed, the retail stores are closed, the supermarkets (supermercado) are closed. Most of the bread stores are closed but the small neighborhood ‘paki stores’ are always open - owned by Pakistan residents of Barcelona, they are always open if you need water, wine, fruit or vegetables, or other random things. They don’t have the best (freshest) quality usually, but they are open. A random bread store will be open as well, but most local coffee shops and bars are closed. Of course, touristy areas have more open. Monday comes and many restaurants are also closed, especially if they were open over the weekend at all. I think it is awesome!
Struggles and Challenges
Hey big surprise - this is not easy!! HA!! I am really loving doing things that are hard and scary - what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger they say….and I’m confident this is true. Having the kids see it is also powerful for them. Of course, they learn by what we DO…not always what we SAY. So more the ‘struggle and challenges’ section will continue of course. I don’t expect it to become ‘easy and comfortable anytime soon - and I think that is a good thing.
I still struggle with temperatures (set the oven to 180 - it’s 21 degrees out (all celsius of course).
I have a super high-end microwave I bought and it does EVERYTHING! The problem is the manual is in Spanish and French and online I cannot find a good way to translate the 90-page manual yet. It’s not a model sold in English-speaking countries apparently….so that manual does not exist. I can set it to 3 minutes and test it at the end but not take advantage of all the great cooking features.
I rent a car and drive but don’t understand all the road signs yet. This is an easy fix I know, but I’ve prioritized other learnings!
Ashley is struggling with the feeling she can’t wear ‘gym clothes’ all day - what I would call yoga pants and a comfy shirt - Lu Lu Lemon shiz. People ‘dress up’ more here….I’d say they just have different tastes it’s not really dressing up. I don’t think anyone wears sweatpants and looks like a weekend bum though like I use to in the states - so maybe I’ll roll that way this weekend and see what kind of looks I get.
Coming up
I’m planning a few topics coming up in addition to the updates and shiz I usually do - let me know if you have suggestions or questions on anything! These have come from emails, FB posts, or just random thoughts I’ve had…
The legal process and what it took to get here.
Different vs weird.
Diets and lifestyle - health and wealth.
The healthcare system
Is this a safe place?
The people of ASB (the kids school)
Pics of our home, our neighborhood, favorite restaurants and shops, etc.
Adventures around Europe.
I heard a talk recently with Bo Parfet - he said ‘if your goals don’t scare the crap out of you, they’re too small of goals’ - I agree. I have had on my bucket list to live in a foreign country since I was 24, it was a big goal then and seemed to get bigger (and scarier) as I got older. I hope as you are reading this a little part of you is thinking of what your goals currently are, what they have been in the past that didn’t get done, or thinking of new ones. Go get some!!!!